Gas-controller.



P.. E. YOUNGS.

GAS CONTROLLER. urmonron FILED M120, 1909.-

Patented Aug. 23, 1910.

INVE-NTOR Atty giyw UNITED s'ra'rns PATENT onrron.

FRED ELLIOTT YOUNG-S, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 EQUITABLE METER. COMPAN Y, 0F PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GAS-CONTROLLER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, FRED E. YoUNes, residing at Detroit, in thecounty of, Wayne and .State 'of Michigan, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Controllers, of which improvements the following is a specification. I

As heretofore constructed gas regulators will only maintain a sufficient-ly uniform pressure at the inlet of the meter and at the pointof consumption, when the quantity of gas passing is within the normal or rated capacity of the meter and pipes leading therefrom. But if the consumption rises above this normal, requiring agreater flow of gas, the frictional resistance to such flow will correspondingly increase, and the gas will not have the same pressure at the point of consumption, even though the pressure at the meter will be unchanged.

The effective area of the weighted dia-' phragm as ordinarily used in regulators varies at all points of its stroke being greater when the diaphragm "is in its lowest position than in any position where a portion of the diaphragm is prevented from upward movement by reason of its attachment to the case or shell, requiring less pressure to support it. At this point the valves are wide open and the flow of gas is greatest while the pressure delivered is less than when the rate of flow is smaller. Within the normal and usually low rated capacity of the meters, this lessening of the pressure as the volume increases, while undesirable, might be negligible, but when combined with the effect of frictional resistanceto the flow of the gas in and from the meter, as above explained, it may result in a serious reduction of the pressure at the point of consumption, before the normal capacity of the meteris reached, and when this rate of flow is exceeded, cause much annoyance and trouble.

The invention described herein has for its object a construction in which provision is made for maintaining an approximately uniform pressure at the point of consumption regardless of the rate of flow of the gas.

It is a further object of the invention to connect the meter to the regulator that the frictional resistance through them to the Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 23, 1910, Application filed February 20, 1909. Serial No. 479,123.

ations in the rate of flow of the gas.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the acompanying drawing forming a part of this specification is shown a sectionalv elevatlon of my improved regulator,

In the practice of my invention,'the shell 1 of the regulator has an arm 2 integral therewith or rigidly connected thereto. This arm is provided with a fitting'3 for connection with the outlet of a meter and the service lines. This regulator and the fitting 3 are connected respectively to the inlet and outlet of the meter by means of unions, consisting of the swivel portions 4 and the nuts 5 carried thereby. It is preferred that the swivels one or both should be bent as shown so that by turning them in their seals in the shell, the distance between the center of the nuts 5 may be varied to permit of. the regulators being attached'to meters varying somewhat in the distance between their inlets and outlets. By thus rigidly connecting the inlet and outlet of themeter, the employment of lead pipes, solder joints, etc., are

avoided thereby avoiding variations of rea relief chamber 8. In the lower wall of the inlet chamber is formed a port or passage 9 for the flow of gas into the regulating chamber, suclrflow being controlled by a valve 10 of-any suitable construction carried by the lever 11. One end of this lever is pivotally connected as at 12, to the case or shell, while the opposite end is pivotally mounted in a slot in the lower end of stem 13 which a is connected to the diaphragm 14, extending across'the upper end of the regulating chamber 7, :The edge of this diaphragm issecurely clamped between the case or shell 1 and the flange 15 of the cover 16. A weight 17 is carried by the diaphragm, being attached thereto by a screw 18 passing through a portion of the weight and engaging the service lines will not vary exceptwith varistem 13 on the underside of the diaphragm,

so that the latter is firmly clamped at its middle portion between the weight and the stem. It will be observed that the arrangement of the valve and lever, and the connection of the l-a-tterto the diaphragm are such that there will not be any lost motion, and the lever and valve will promptly respond to any movement of the diaphragm.

The diaphragms of regulators are. frequently injured in shipment and handling by the back and forward movement of the weight and in order to overcome this a re cess 19 is formed in the weight 17 for the reception of a stud or projection 20 of the cover or lid 16. This projection is made retain one end of a thrust rod 22 which pro jects into the recess in the abutment, while the opposite end thereof extends into and is loosely retained by a recess in the screw 23 screwlng into an opening in the wall of the shell. Around this rod is a compression spring 24: bearing at one end against a collar 25 securedto the rod while the opposite" end of the spring bears against a washer 26 loosely mounted on the rod and bearing in turn against the end of the screw 23, as shown. The meeting faces of the washer and screw are preferably curved, so that the washer in all positions of the rod will bear.

uniformly against the end of the screw. The opening in this screw is made sufficiently larg'e'to' permit of a considerable lateral movement of the rod as hereinafter described. In the operation of the regulator as the gas flows out alongj'the service lines, the diaphragm will drop down by reason of its weight thereby opening the port 9 and permitting a flow of gas into the regulatinq chamber, and thencethrough the meter an service lines. It will be observed that when the valve 10 is closed a line passing through the axis of the'rod 22 will be nearly in line with the pivot pin '12, but as the lever moves down the axial lineof the rod will move farther and farther away from the pivot 12, thus increasing the leverage proportionately to its change in position which corresponds to changes of position of the diaphragm and consequent resultant effect of the force of the spring exerted through the thrust rod to pull down on the diaphragm. Before the regulator is used the several parts are so adjusted that when the effective area of the diaphragm is increased due'to its downward movement by the weighglhc effectiveness of the spring will increase at the desired rate. 'lheope'ration of the springfll is equivalent to adding an uutonmtically variable weight to the diaphragm, which becomes greater or less according as the diaphragm is moved downward or upward.

The gases for the regulation of which my improved regulator willbe employed, have an injurious effect upon the diaphragm causing a rapid deterioration of the same,

, and in order to overcome this a removable partition 27 is arranged across the regulating chamber, so as to prevent a circula- ,,tl011 of gas in contact with the diaphragm.

The opening through the diaphragm for the stem 13 is sufliciently large to permit of free movement of the latter and also to allow the dead" gases inclosed between the partition and the diaphragm to freely respond to any variation of pressure in the portion of the regulating chamber below the diaphragm. The regulating chamberi's connected to the relief chamber 8 by a short tube 28, which extends down into a recessed plug 29 screwing into an opening in the relief chamber. The lower end of this tube is immersed in mercury, the depth of which above the, end of the tube will beregulated in accordance with the maximum pressure which it is desired to maintain in the regulating chamber. In case of an abnormal increase of ressure the mercury will be displaced and a low the gas to escape through the lower end of the tube into the chamber, and pass through the escape port 30 formed in part in the case or shell 1 and partially in an extension of the lid 16: lVhen the seal formed by the mercury is broken the rush of gas is quick and violent, and will force the mercury into the chamber 8 in the form of spray or small drops; In order to preventthis spray being carried out through the escape port 30, baffle walls 31 and32 are provided, which will deflect the sprayed mercury. downward onto the bottom of chamber 8 and thus prevent it being carried out through the escape port. In order that the diaphragm and weight may move freely up and down, a vent port 3-1 is provided connecting the chamber formed by the diaphrag'mand cover with the escape port 30. Should the gas be shut off entirely at the inlet of the meter and regulator in cold weather, there will be a condensation of the gases remaining therein, and if the service pipes are tightly closed a greater or less vacuum formed in the regulating chamber. As this vacuum is formed the atmospheric pressu'rein the relief chamber 8 may force the mercury up into the tube untilits lower end is uncovered, when the air would rush through the tube into the regulating chamber. In this rush of ,air

mercury is liable to be displaced and carried violently into the regulating chamber, whence it might pass into the meter and injure the latter by amalgamating with the solder of its shell. To prevent such a sudden rush as would be incident to the uncovering of the entire end of the i e 28, a notch is formed in the lower end of t e pipe which, when uncovered, will allow a gradual flow of air from the relief chamber into the regulating chamber. 7 i

I claim herein as my invention:

1. An integrally formed gas controller casing having arranged therein suitable means for automatically regulating the flow of gas to a meter in combination with threaded means exterior of but integral with the easing for attaching the casing to a gas supply line, to the inlet of the meter, to the outlet of the meter and to service lines. I

2. A gas controller having in combination a valve controlling the flow of gas from the supply pipe, a uniformly weighted diaphragm subject to gas pressure on one side for shifting the valve, and means operative on an increased flow through the service; lines to supplement the action of the Weight on said diaphragm proportional to increased resistance in the service lines.

3. A gas controller having in combination a valve controlling the flow of gas from the supply pipe, adiaphragm movable by the pressure of the gas for closing said valve, and a spring acting in opposition to valve closingmovementofthediaphragm,thespring being arranged to present a resistance to. the closing of the valve approximately proportional to the increase in the effective area of the surface of the diaphragm subjected to gas pressure.

4. A gas controller provided with regulating and relief chambers, the relief chamber having a free outlet, a tube extending from the regulating chamber into the relief chamber, a mercuryseal in the relief chamber surrounding the discharge end of the tube and bafile walls suitably arranged to preventthe escape of mercury through the outlet from the relief chamber.

5. A gas controller having in combination a valve controlling the flow of gas from the supply pipe, a weighted diaphragm movable by pressure of the gas for closing said valve, I I

and a spring acting in opposition to the valve closing movement of the diaphragm,

the spring bein arranged to present a resistance to the c osing of the valve approximately proportional to the variations in the effective area of the surface of the diaphragm movable by pressure of gas for closingsuch valve, and a removable partition so arranged in the case or shell in rela- 'tion to the diaphragm and the line of flow of gas-through the regulator from the inlet to the outlet port, as to prevent material circulation of gas in contact with the diaphragm and. without interfering with variations of pressure of the gas flowing through the case or shell, affecting the diaphragm.

7. A gas controller provided with regulating and relief chambers, the relief chamber having a free outlet in. combination with a basin orreceptacle for a sealing liquid, a connection from the regulating chamber eX- tending into said basin and a port permitting a gradual flow of air from the relief chamber to the regulating chamber.

8. A gas controller provided with regulating and relief chambers, the relief chamber-having a free outlet to the atmosphere,

a connection between said chambers, a mercury seal closing one end of such connection, and bafile walls extending in opposite directions into the line of flow of gas to the free outlet td prevent the escape of mercury therethrough.

9. A gas controller provided with regulating and relief chambers, the relief chamber having a free outlet to the atmosphere, a

connection and a bafiie Wall extending into the line of flow of gas to the free outlet to prevent the escape of mercury therethrough.

-In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set a valve controlling the flow of gas, a diaconnection between the regulating and relief chambers, a mercury seal controlling such 

